Set in the American Midwest in the late 1920s, this novel is the tale of one family's despair, perseverance, and hope. It focuses on a wayward violin maker attempting to transport his masterpiece to the most renowned violinist of the time. The trek sees him leaving behind his young wife and infant son. It is Angell's first novel; he is a psychotherapist in private practice.

Alan J. Pakula is widely regarded as one of the major filmmakers of the 20th century, yet not much is known about him. Brown has written the first biography of the producer of To Kill a Mockingbird and director of Klute, All the President's Men, Sophie's Choice, Presumed Innocent, and The Parallax View, among other films. Brown interviewed actors Candice Bergen, Jane Fonda, Kevin Kline, Harrison Ford, Robert Redford, and Meryl Streep for the book. Ford wrote the book's introduction. Brown is also the author of Zero Mostel and The Fabulous Lunts.

The authors substantially revised their earlier edition, using all new case studies, grouped into the themes human relations, marketing and publicity, planning and policy development, liability and risk management, and financial management. Arnold and Heyne teach in the IC department of therapeutic recreation and leisure services.

John Dicker '95, The United States of Wal-Mart (Tarcher/Penguin, 2005)

Perhaps no retail chain is as controversial as Wal-Mart. One of every 115 Americans is a Wal-Mart employee, and the megacompany's $288 billion in annual sales makes up a stunning 2 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product. Journalist Dicker analyzes these facts and looks at the emerging resistance to Wal-Mart's growth even as it opens a new store every 38 hours.

In this work the author analyzes various styles of management and recommends methods to better increase employee morale and productivity. In an earlier book, Work Yourself Happy, she offered advice on making career choices that will lead to more satisfying jobs and happier lives. Levine is the founder of Comprehensive Coaching U, which trains life-coaching professionals.

After the disbanding in 2003 of their art-pop trio the Dent, Linker and Norberg formed the Day Traders. The duo's self-titled debut album has been garnering comparisons to works by groups as diverse as the Bee Gees, Guster, and Simon and Garfunkel.

Barrett Neville '94 with John Salka, First In, Last Out: Leadership Lessons from the New York Fire Department and, under the pen name of Doctor Metropolis, How to Be a Superhero (both from Penguin Group, 2004)

Neville and New York Fire Department battalion chief Salka discuss the leadership principles used by the famous department, and offer advice on how to apply them to other organizations and businesses. In How to Be a Superhero Neville, as "Doctor Metropolis," offers self-help lessons for those who "find themselves with unexpected superpowers and need help adjusting to their new lives."

Jennifer Jeanne Patterson and Matt Samuel really love each other, but the first year of marriage -- they wed in June 2002 -- was extremely trying as they tried to adjust to living together. This book is Patterson's guide for other newlyweds who want to avoid having a fight a week, or worse. Patterson received her M.F.A. in creative writing from Columbia University and has a syndicated column called "Newlyweds," from which this book grew.

John Rosenbaum and Ayseli Usluata, editors, Shaping the Future of Communication Research in Europe (Istanbul: Yeditepe University Publications, 2005)

This anthology includes Rosenbaum's article "The Challenge of Teaching Journalism Ethics: A Case Study of an American in Bosnia." Rosenbaum, who retired from IC last year after 17 years in the Department of Television-Radio, serves on the executive council of the European Communication Association and the board of directors of the Fulbright Association's central New York chapter.

Walker has been teaching instrumental and general music since 1974 in the Oyster Bay-East Norwich public schools on Long Island. His songbook, which he began researching in 1999, includes ballads, songs, and novelties about oysters and the storied Oyster Bay. Walker is a trustee of the Oyster Bay Historical Society, which sponsored the project.